Oxford Harlequins 35, Chinnor 18

Oxford Harlequins punished Chinnor’s early errors and bagged a late bonus point to go third in National 3 South West.

While most spectators expected this to be a tight and tense derby, Chinnor were left playing catch-up after gifting Quins possession with three shocking kicks.

Quins made the most of their chances and ran out worthy winners despite largely playing second fiddle in the set pieces.

The final scoreline suggests an emphatic victory, but when Chinnor fly half James Cathcart reduced the arrears to 22-18 with a 75th-minute penalty, the visitors had every chance of snatching the spoils.

Chinnor wasted a great chance on three minutes when centre Richard Williams gained space on the right, but wing Pip Seymour over-ran the ball and couldn’t hold the pass.

At the other end, the visitors’ normally assured scrum half Toby Prescott hooked a clearance straight to his opposite number Anthony Cope.

Cope charged down the right and supporting lock Andy Boyle powered over in the corner, with fly half Jeff Stewart converting.

That was on eight minutes, and five minutes later Cathcart was the villain as his attempted clearance picked out Quins winger Grant Ricker.

Ricker beat Seymour and fed centre Dom Maley to score, although there were question marks over whether he grounded the ball.

Stewart’s conversion made it 14-0 in as many minutes and Chinnor were rocked.

Cathcart missed a penalty on 21 minutes, while another overlap went begging as centre Darren Oxley, who was making his first appearance of the campaign could not find wing Ben Farr.

Things got even worse for Chinnor when full back Ben Hewitt found Ricker with a poor clearance.

Ricker and No 8 Jason Wellburn created try No 3 for centre Martin Nutt.

Chinnor had plenty of the ball thanks to their strong pack, but lacked fluency.

They gave themselves hope on 33 minutes when Prescott slid over on the right after Williams had broken the line and Cathcart converted.

Chinnor had to begin the second half well to have any chance – and did just that with a try on 43 minutes.

Replacement wing Eric Brown sent a grubber kick through, pressurised full back Graham Crapper and got the score himself.

Chinnor were edging their way back into the match and Brown went close again, but Quins kept battling in defence.

A Cathcart penalty miss was followed by a successful kick from Stewart and the hosts had some breathing space at 22-12.

But with nine minutes of normal time remaining, Nutt was sin-binned by referee Clare Daniels and Cathcart promptly slotted two quick penalties.

Just when it looked as if Chinnor might turn the screw, Quins won two penalties of their own and Stewart capped an outstanding game by kicking both.

Chinnor were chasing a losing bonus point when Quins bagged their fourth try on the counter-attack deep into stoppage time.

Nutt ran the ball clear on the right and cut inside before passing to Maley, who off-loaded for wing Huw Jones to sprint in, Stewart converting.

Oxford Harlequins: Crapper (Sewell 50), H Jones, Nutt, Maley, Ricker, Stewart, Cope, Chadbone (capt), Needham, DeLange (Edney 78), Pearson, Boyle, Cross (Knapp 59), Newman, Welburn.

Chinnor: B Hewitt, Farr, R Williams (capt), Oxley, Seymour (Gilbert 70), Cathcart, Prescott, Winpenny, Cawston, Pickett (Matthews 78), Jackman, Black, Jones, Hastings, Mowbray.

Referee: C Daniels (Somerset).

Man-of-the-match: Maley.